What Is Faith When You Cannot See?
When it comes to faith, many people believe that seeing is believing. However, faith is much more than just what we can see with our eyes.
Faith is the belief that there is something greater at work, even when we can’t perceive it. This kind of faith requires us to trust our instincts and to trust in something beyond what we can see or touch.
See also: How to Stay Strong In Your Faith
What Is Faith When You Cannot See?
According to the Bible, faith is trust, assurance, and confidence in God. The Greek word used for faith in the New Testament is “pistis,” which connotes the idea of trust and confidence in God or Christ.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, faith is the assurance or reality of things that are still hoped for and the conviction or proof of things that cannot be seen.
Faith is not something that is needed only after a prayer is answered or when someone receives what they have requested from God. It is something that comes before, as an expression of trust in God’s power and willingness to act on behalf of those who trust Him.
Examples Of Faith In The Bible
In the Bible, many examples of faith are given:
- Abraham’s faith in God’s promise of a son in his old age
- The faith of the three young Jewish men who refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image.
These people believed in God’s power to fulfill His promises and to deliver them from danger and persecution.
Understanding Hebrews 11:1-32
The book of Hebrews is a powerful testament to the nature of faith. Hebrews 11:1-32 is an often-cited passage that speaks to the power of faith, even when we cannot see what we are believing in. The passage starts by defining faith as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The author then goes on to provide examples of faith in action throughout history. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and many others are cited as examples of people who demonstrated faith in God. These individuals were able to trust in the unseen God because they had a believed and trusted that God would follow through on His promises.
The passage is summarized with this scripture “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.“
The Limits of Our Perception
One of the most challenging aspects of faith is accepting that there are limits to our perception. We are limited by our senses and our understanding of the world around us. There are things that we cannot see, touch or feel, yet we must trust that they exist.
This is particularly challenging in an age where we are used to having instant access to information and being able to see everything through social media and the internet. We are conditioned to believe that if we can’t see it, it doesn’t exist.
Faith requires us to break through this conditioning and extend our beliefs beyond what we can perceive.
The Role of Belief in Faith
Belief is a fundamental aspect of faith. It is the foundation upon which faith is built. Without a belief in God, faith becomes meaningless. Belief gives us the strength to keep going, even when we encounter setbacks and challenges.
Belief can take many different forms. Faith is about believing in God for his purpose for us in life. It is important that we hold on to our belief in God and allow Him to guide us through.
Trusting The Unseen God
Trusting the unseen God means to have faith in God even though we cannot physically see Him. It means believing in His existence, His power, and His promises even though we cannot see them with our eyes.
Trusting the unseen God requires a deep conviction that God is present and active in our lives, even when we may not feel His presence. It involves surrendering our will and desires to God, trusting that He knows what is best for us and will guide us along the right path.
Trusting the unseen God requires a strong faith that is built on a relationship with God through prayer, worship, and reading the Bible.
What Does it Mean to Have Faith in Jesus?
Having faith in Jesus means trusting Him as our Savior and Lord, believing that He is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead. It involves putting our complete trust in Jesus and surrendering our lives to Him, seeking to follow His teachings and example.
As the Bible says in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” This means that faith in Jesus is not just intellectual assent, but a heartfelt belief that leads to a transformed life.
Having faith in Jesus also means relying on Him for strength and guidance, and seeking to build a relationship with Him through prayer and reading the Bible. It is a daily choice to put our trust in Him and live our lives in accordance with His will.
Ultimately, having faith in Jesus means that we have the hope of eternal life with Him in heaven, as promised in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“
Building Faith Through Experience
Experience is a powerful teacher, and faith is often built upon past experiences. When we encounter situations where our faith is able to sustain us through difficult times, we become more confident in our beliefs.
Our experiences shape our beliefs and can help us to find meaning in our lives. They teach us to trust in the unseen and to rely on our beliefs, even when we cannot see the outcome. Through our experiences, we often find that our faith is strengthened, and we become more resilient.
The Power of Faith in Overcoming Obstacles
Faith is a powerful force that can help us to overcome even the most difficult obstacles. It gives us strength when we feel weak, hope when we feel despair, and the courage to keep going when everything seems to be against us.
This power is evident in the lives of many people who have overcome significant challenges. Whether it is a cancer survivor, a war veteran, or someone who has faced incredible personal challenges, faith has helped them to persevere and overcome.
Final Thoughts
Faith is an essential part of the human experience. It helps us to find meaning in our lives, to trust in the unseen, and to overcome obstacles that we encounter. Faith requires that we believe in something that we cannot see, touch or feel, but it is this belief that gives us the strength to keep going. Whether it is through personal beliefs, religion or spirituality, faith is a powerful force that we can all tap into to help us live more meaningful and fulfilling lives.